Weird Cycling Gear You Should Bring on Every Ride

When heading out for a ride, most cyclists know to carry a few crucial items: food, water, a spare tube, and a pump to name a few. But experienced riders almost always have some surprising or unexpected pieces of cycling gear that they can whip out when they need to solve almost any crisis. We asked mechanics, racers, and our own editors what weird things they carry on every ride. Here are the seven most surprisingly helpful essentials we found.

Plastic Shower Cap and Surgical Gloves
Pro mountain biker and volunteer firefighter Rebecca Ruschswears by these weird but practical items. She keeps them in her seat bag and uses them to keep her head and hands dry whenever she gets caught in a cold mountain rainstorm. “They don't look pretty, but they totally work," she says.

Health-Insurance Card
If you end up taking a trip to the hospital, this helps a ton with the admissions process. Just tuck it next to your credit card or ID if you carry one. If you’re prone to losing important things, make a copy and stash it in your saddlebag. Canadian road national champion Leah Kirchmann also brings a signed organ donor card. “If tragedy strikes, I want to be in a position to save lives," she says.

Twenty-Dollar Bill
Scott-3Rox team mechanic Scott Kelly always tucks a $20 bill into his pocket or saddlebag in case he needs food, a taxi-ride home, or a midride coffee. But there’s another benefit: If you gash your tire, you can slip a folded bill inside to keep your tube from bubbling out. A $5 or $1 bill also work if you’re willing to skip the coffee stop.

Presta Valve Extender
This is essential for anyone with deep-section wheels. It screws onto a tube’s valve, increasing its length so it fits through a deep rim. That means you can run almost any presta tube. So even if you flat twice and blow through your own spare tube, you can borrow another, even if it’s made for shallower rims. "Having gotten screwed on more than one occasion because my rims are deeper than my spare valves, this has become invaluable,” says Bicycling contributor Selene Yeager.

Waterproof Baggie
A sudden rainstorm can soak you and your equipment before you even have time to curse the weather gods. Be ready by stashing a plastic bag in your pocket, saddlebag, or jersey pocket. When rain strikes, slip in your valuables (phone, cash, coupons for a free donut, etc.) so they stay dry.

EpiPen

Utrecht Center for Food Allergy

EpiPen
If you have severe allergies to bee stings (or anything else), talk to your doctor about carrying an EpiPen on rides. The small device delivers a shot of adrenaline that can limit life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions. Pro cyclocross racer and 10-time national champion Katie Compton always carries one “in case I get stung,” she says.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Bicycling participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.